Printing-block.



No. 848,483. PATBNTED FEB. 5, 1907. L. MQGOVERN.

PRINTING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED N0y.27,19o3.

Zg A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRINTING-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

' Application filed November 2'], 1903. Serial No. 182,878-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE McGov- ERN, a citizen of the United States, resid' at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the assembled plates and bases or mounts used in printing, which may be termed blocks, it being particularly applicable to those employed in connection with photo-en aving plates or other similar plates whic are secured to bases or mounts.

It has for its principal objects the features of construction and modes of precedure hereinafter described and more particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a base in perspective. Figs. 2 and 3 are top plan views of a plate and adhesive sheet, respectively; and Fig. 4 1s a perspective view of the completed block.

Similar characters of reference. indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In accordance with the old practice of mounting photo-engravin plates or the like, the matter of producing the printing-surface not being here considered, the plate is cut from sixteen gage zinc by means of a circular saw, the edges are beveled on a bevelingmachine, portions are cut from the surface on a routing-machine, holes are drilled in the beveled e ges and routed surface, and the plate is then secured to a base, which may conveniently be of wood, but is sometimes of metal, by tacking or otherwise securing through the drilled holes. It is necessary to use this comparatively thick metal and cut it away at the points of attachment to prevent the heads of the securing means from printing.

' Moreover, if the plates were made of thin metal it would be liable to buckle between the points at which it is secured and break away from the tacks. In addition to the comparatively expensive machinery which is used in carrying out'this method of mounting and the considerable time involved it is also objectionable in wasting about one-eighth of an inch around the entire plate in the beveled space which is frequently very valuable, especiallyin a daily newspaper. In produci a block in accordance with my invention preferably make the plate B of relatively very thin metal, twenty-two gage or even less, which may be readily cut with ordinary tinsmiths shears. -A sheet C of gelatin or other suitable adhesive substance or a prepared paper or fabric coated with an adhesive is then cut to the size of the plate and, if necessary, is moistened and laid on the mounting-base A, which may be of wood, metal, or any desired material. The plate is then preferably warmed and imposed upon the adhesive and the whole subjected to pressure for a short time by means, for example, of some simple device, as :1 copyingpress. The action of the moisture, heat, and pressure cements the plate 'to the baseby means of the interposed adhesive, which will solidify rapidly and will render them a substantially unbroken block. The heat which, as above stated, is imparted to the. plate acts to properly set the moistenin'g adhesive, enabling it to be almost instantly removed from the press. This is of great importance in newspaper work in which speed 1s one of the first desiderata.

It will be seen that with my improved block exceedingly thin metal may be used and that the plate and base become uniformly united over the entire surface and without waste of margin. The method of produci thisblock requires nothing but the simp est tools and may be carried out very speedily and effectively.

My invention is of particular value in connection with blocks and plates to be employed in rinting where the plate is subjected to high tem erature after it has been secured to the lock. Vegetable resins would be melted by this treatment, while gelatin is not thus affected and my improved block remains uninjured.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A printing-block comprising a base. a

plate, and an intermediate sheet of an adhesive substance. 2. A printing-block comprising'a base, a plate, and an intermediate sheet of elatin. In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAWRENCE McGOVERN. Witnesses:

JAMES F. DE Lone,

, WM. J.'SULLIVAN.

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